The Harry Potter Spinoff Movie

So I believe I may have whinged about originality being dead in Hollywood on this blog a couple of months ago. That sentiment still stands. There's just so many movie adaptations hitting the big screen it's just not funny ... it probably is very funny (hilarious, even) to those being paid the big bucks for these adaptations though. 

But there it is; there's very little reason to read these days. Why bother when in a couple of years it'll be a massive blockbuster (and possibly destroying your favourite characters in the process)?

Still, all that didn't stop me getting super excited when I read about the upcoming Harry Potter spinoff that is going to hit the big screen in the near future. The Harry Potter fan girl inside of me squealed so loudly at this news. 

The best bit about this spinoff is that it's based on the life and Adventures of Newt Scamander. For those of you who aren't hardcore Harry Potter fans, Newt Scamander is the author of one of Harry's school books, Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them. The only mention of him in the books is only in the first book when Harry is first getting his school books (that is purely from memory, and I could be way off on this). 

So while Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them is a spinoff it's going to be a whole new story. It's something we haven't read or seen before ... kind of. I'm sure you're all aware about there only being so many stories etc etc. It's going to be a new character set seventy or so years earlier in a world that we already know and love. And the best part is that J.K.Rowling will be writing the script herself. Yep, there's going to be that same old Rowling magic to the movie and we can see if she can write movie scripts (because let's face it, she can write well even if the subject matter isn't to your liking). Then there's a fact that Rowling loves this character and had already created a rich back story for Newt Scamander. This isn't just Warner Bros and Rowling to cash in and trying to earn some more money from the Harry Potter franchise (well, ok, that's probably exactly what Warner Bros is trying to do). Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them should actually prove to be a great movie that doesn't have to rely on expensive special effects to be a hit. Kind of like The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings. 

So yeah, I'm super excited about this spinoff. But I'm also wondering if we can expect a similar Quidditch Through the Ages spinoff in a few years time and that'll work story wise. I mean, a Quidditch movie would be awesome. But not if it's going to have to be documentary style. 

The important thing to remember is that the Harry Potter franchise isn't dead yet. There's clearly possibilities for spinoffs, and Warner Bros is definitely exploring those options. 

Peace out,

Fox. 

That Rumoured Dexter Spinoff

Yeah so I've been thinking about this rumoured Dexter spinoff. It's all I've been able to think about since hearing this rumour (I've haven't exactly kept my ear to the ground with these things lately). And honest to god I honestly can't see how there could be a spinoff ... well, actually, seeing the spinoff is easy. Seeing a successful spinoff is a little more difficult. I just don't think it can be done with any of that wonderful Dexter originality. 

I mean, the whole reason Dexter has been so successful is because of its originality: it's all about a serial killer who just happens to also be a cop (blood splatter expert actually. But I'm not nit picking). How many other TV shows like that are out there? 

Not many. 

They give us into an insight into our darker side (which we all try to pretend that we don't have). Dexter even gives us a slight insight into how the mind of a serial killer works, their codes of conduct and how they choose their victims, rah, rah, rah. And did I mention it appeals to our darker natures, that whole serial killer amongst us thing. It's also probably why The Following was so popular (I liked The Following, and therefore assume everyone else did too). Although, truth be told, Kevin Bacon probably also helped a lot with the popularity of The Following. 

But what can a spinoff of Dexter offer us? 

A cop show? 

Because there's nothing like that on TV already. 

But this cop show would be set in Miami with the police solving murders in the beautiful Miami scenery!

Hmmm. Kind of sounds like CSI Miami though (it's been awhile since I watched that. They still solve murders that happened in the more beautiful parts of Miami most of the time, right?). 

So another cop show is out. So how about something a little more Dexter like? A show about some crook who also just happens to be a cop? Hell, the spinoff could even be about Deb continuing on with Dexter's work! It doesn't even have to be Deb continuing his work. It could also be his babysitter, Jamie Harrison is probably a little young to continue on with his father's work (although that would be quite the twist for them to reveal who the killer is after a couple of seasons of them wondering and searching). 

But even that's just relying on the old Dexter formula. Nothing truly original and inspiring there. 

Of course I could be wrong. I could have overlooked something and a Dexter spinoff could actually work. I wouldn't know. I'm not a big Hollywood producer/executive after all. 

But thank god that Dexter executive producer quashed the spinoff rumours for the time being though, right. 

Peace out!

Fox.